Chapter 8: Back to Hogwarts

Note: Chapter complete.

As Ron stepped off the train, his foot landed in a large puddle of water. The splash brought water all over his shoes, and to the bottom of his robes.

"Shit!" He cursed, trying to safely stretch out his long legs and make it to an area without water, but he failed and landed in another shallow puddle.

"Ron, you just got my robe wet," Hermione complained from behind him.

"Sorry." He latched arms with her, determined not to get separated in the wave of students flooding off the trains.

"First years, over here!" Ron recognized the voice of Hagrid, a friend and teacher of his from Hogwarts.

"Returning students, follow along that path, you will see what you are to do," Hagrid waved his large hand in his direction.

"That path?" Hermione said awkwardly, looking at the path that led into the dark trees.

"This is interesting," Ron gulped in a somewhat fearful tone. A memory from his second year at Hogwarts popped into his mind. This memory was when he and Harry had ventured into the forest after hours one night, only to come across Aragog, a giant talking spider that Hagrid had rescued and set to live in the woods. He had commanded it not to harm anyone. Well, that command was well forgotten as Ron and Harry nearly became a late-night snack for Aragog's children. Ron shuddered at the thought that Aragog's millions of children could still be out there, waiting for him.

Walking close to Hermione, Ron started along the path, keeping at a steady pace until the tree's started appearing on either side of the path. Every little sound made Ron jump, leading Hermione to jump as well. A few giggles came from the crowds, as they laughed when some students started making wolf calls, and randomly yelling BOO. Ron's vision started darkening to where he couldn't see any of these students. Even Hermione was hard to make out on the side of him, just her presence was felt. Ron hoped that no one would get the idea to sneak up on him, because if that happened, he was pretty sure he would either pass out, or scream for help. They both stayed silent until the trees started clearing and they were then in a large opening. Students were gathered around a statue of what appeared to be Dumbledore. As they would touch it, they suddenly disappeared.

"It must be a port key," Ron finally said.

"I thought those didn't work inside the Hogwarts grounds?" Hermione pondered.

"Must be a special one. It is of Dumbledore after all." Ron clasped Hermione's hand tightly as they neared the statue.

"Do we just touch it?" Hermione wondered.

"I guess so. Ready?"

"Ready." They both reached out their hands to touch the warm stone. The last thing Ron saw before his vision started to blur was Harry's bright green eyes staring right at his clasped hand with Hermione from where he was standing only a few yards away.

"Uh oh," he muttered as a bright white light surrounded them. The transfer was fast, almost too fast. Faster then traveling by Floo Powder. Ron's stomach was still at the statue as his head spun in circles. Hermione looked like she was going to tumble over. Neville suddenly appeared from thin air, and landed down on his knees.

"Are you okay, Neville?" Hermione quickly helped him to his feet.

"I hate those things," He grumbled. "But I'm okay." He brushed dirt off his robe and spotted a small tear near the knees.

"Should we go in?" Ron sized up the huge Hogwarts doors in front of them.

"We can't just stand out here all night," Neville sighed. "Though I wouldn't mind doing just that. Have you guys seen Malfoy lately? He must have grown five inches!"

"He can't be taller then Ron still, can he?" Hermione looked Ron up and down. Neville looked thoughtful.

"Well no, but Ron doesn't want to beat me up every other day!" He turned and started limping up the stairs, when suddenly the two doors flew open by themselves, sending out a huge gust of wind.

"Whoa!" The three of them all gasped together. The doors continued opening with a loud creaking sound that was echoing from the corridor inside. As they stepped in, the candles magically lit themselves from their places on the walls. A figure appeared…A tall, gangly figure. Another smaller one sat at its feet.

"Go directly to the Great Hall," snarled the dark voice of Argus Filch. "No pit stops to any other area!" His face was hidden among the shadows, but they all knew what his appearance looked like, as unpleasant as it was.

"Good to see he's just as friendly as ever," Ron joked when they were out of Filtch's hearing range.

"Did you expect him to be like Dumbledore or something?" Neville said smartly. "That will happen right around the time Snape wishes me a happy return this year, and gives me good numbers in Potions!"

"Good point." They were silent as they walked along the dark hall. The floor was slippery. All the photographs on the walls seemed to be staring at them (Though that was pretty likely.) Another figure appeared from a door on the left and stumbled into Hermione.

"Oh, excuse me!" She replied quickly, taking no notice as to who it was.

"Ah, Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Longbottom. Welcome back to Hogwarts."

"Thank you," they all said quickly and continued on their way. They all did a double take when the face came out of the shadows. It was Snape. At least, the general body frame and facial features were. His usual black apparel was replaced with robes of white silk. His usual black, shaggy hair was much shorter and a lighter color. And what was that on his face? A smile?! Since when were the bones in Snape's face able to pull away from that constant sneer??

"You're welcome," Snape (?!) replied. "I hope you have an enjoyable year. I am looking foreword to classes with you all!" And with that he was gone back into the shadows.

"What in bloody hell?!" Ron exclaimed loudly, staring after Snape (?!). "What was it you were saying about him wishing you a welcome back, Neville??"

"Who was that?!" Neville asked.

"I have no clue," Ron replied.

"What was up with the robes…Where they actually silk?"

"Snape never struck me as the silk kind of guy," Ron said.

"Some type of leather maybe."

"Something is seriously up. First Harry, and how he couldn't remember his anger spurts, and now Snape seems to be joining the good side? Am I the only one that didn't see that happening in my lifetime?" Hermione said, utterly confused.

"This is too weird," Ron exclaimed, pulling open the doors to the Great Hall. An eruption of chattering and laughing greeted them. The tables all sat lined up according to the houses. Many students were already gathered at them, while a timid group of first years stood up at the front of the room. Ron spotted Fred and George talking with their friend Lee Jordan (They weren't gathered with any of the other seventh years, mainly because they had all been sixth years the previous year, so they had no other friends!), and Ginny was reading something silently at the Gryffindor table. They hurried through the crowd to the empty bench space next to Ginny. Hermione sat next to her, and Ron plopped down on the other side of Hermione. Neville took the spot on the bench across the table. There weren't really any teachers present in the room, only Hagrid, who was leading more first years in.

"There's Harry!" Neville stood up and frantically waved his arms around. Harry walked over to the table silently, and sat next to him. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were not far behind, and they finished off the bench on Neville's side.

"Hey you guys, how are things for you?" Seamus asked casually, inspecting the empty glass in front of him.

"Not bad," Hermione and Ron sounded together.

"You seem…Closer then before la-" Seamus said before Harry shot him a silencing look.

"I mean, yeah, that's good. Me too!" He said quickly and started talking to Dean in a hushed whisper. Ron wondered if he just meant the fact that Hermione was nearly sitting up on his lap, or if he was speaking relationship wise.

"What are you reading, Ginny?" asked Ron.

"A letter from Percy," she responded without looking up. "He's mainly just wishing me a good year and all that. He says to wish the same to you as well."

"Anything else new since we last saw him? Any news with Penelope?" Hermione asked before she could realize she was implying that she was with the Weasley's this summer. Either that or she took visits to see Percy without any of the other Weasley's knowing it at the time. And how likely was that? Not very.

"Or since you and Ron last saw him I mean," Hermione tried to back herself up. "I am anxious to hear more then what you guys told-"

"Don't even bother," Harry said suddenly.

"You know, you two really confuse me."

"Who, me?"

"Yeah, you and Ron," Harry replied.

"What did I do?" Ron asked slowly.

"First you guys completely loathe each other. You argue about everything under the sun, and refuse to admit when one of you is wrong. I remember all those fights where I always ended up stuck in the middle. Harry, tell Hermione she's wrong! Harry, why is Ron so stubborn?" Harry did an impersonation of each of them.

"And now you two are fucking each other?!" His voice grew louder. Neville knocked a fork off the table in surprise, and made a funny sound from the back of his throat.

"It's not like that. It's true…Love," Ron said defensively, unable to keep the joy level out of his voice.

"I think it's something that was always buried deep down, but we just hid behind it with all the ar-"

"What about me?" Harry interrupted Ron, looking directly at Hermione.

"You are my friend, Harry. A really, really good friend that I love and care about. But Ron is my boyfriend."

"Oh yeah?" Harry got up and hurried to the side Hermione was sitting on. Quicker then anyone knew what was going on, Harry was grabbing Hermione and pulling her into a kiss. Dean, Seamus, and Neville all started open-mouth as it all played out. Ron could only watched, half thinking Harry's lips weren't on Hermione's. But why wasn't Hermione pulling away from him yet? Seconds later she shoved him off.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped, more shocked then ever. Even more shocked then when she saw Snape earlier.

"Now tell me, wasn't that the best you ever had?" Harry crossed his arms.

"Actually, no!" Hermione wiped her lips off with her hand. "It may just be the worst!"

"What?" Harry demanded, looking extremely pissed off. Then he took off down the room and disappeared out the door. No one said anything. Neville, Seamus, and Dean were all sharing glances, while Ron and Ginny just stared at each other until the anger flashed over Ron's face.

"That there confirms it. Something is wrong with Harry. He wouldn't just go and do something like that!" Hermione declared.

"You didn't seem to mind all that much," Ron muttered.

"I did so mind!"

"You were stuck on him long enough!"

"That's because I wasn't exactly expecting one of my friends to just do that! It hadn't registered in my brain right away! I wasn't kissing him back.

"Yes you were!"

"No I wasn't, Ron!" Hermione argued. "Stop being so damn stubborn!"

"You stop being so stubborn!"

"I am not the one being stubborn here!"

"Yes!" Ron complained.

"No!"

"Ron, she wasn't kissing him back, I cold tell," Ginny interrupted their rant quietly. Ron gave an exasperated sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

"Fine!"

"You can stop shouting now mate," Seamus acted like he was cleaning out an ear with his finger.

"Sorry," Ron quieted his voice. He looked into Hermione's dark eyes. They were sad and sorry, and looking at him woefully. Ron couldn't pass up that look no matter how hard he would ever try. It was impossible to ignore. He scooted over closer to her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She gave a relieved sigh and rested her head on him.

"It's all okay," Ron laced his fingers with hers. Inside he was still feeling upset and extremely annoyed that his girlfriends' lips were on someone else's. Not even to mention that those someone else's lips were Harry's.

"Now kiss and make up," Ginny demanded, nudging Ron on the leg. Ron suddenly felt awkward with the idea of kissing Hermione again. The image of Harry grabbing at Hermione and kissing her kept replaying in his head.

"Ron?" Hermione asked, tickling his arm. "It takes two to do this right." He must have dazed out for a moment.

"What? Oh, sorry." He looked at Hermione's face edging in closer. When their lips met, images of Harry vanished.

"Okay, okay! Let's not forget that we are out in public!" Seamus groaned. Hermione stayed wrapped in Ron's grasp.

"You are so unromantic, Seamus," Ginny said.

"Why? Because I don't think they should go any further out here in the middle of all of us? Excuse me for being civil!" Seamus said back.

"They were making up after a fight, that's my point."

"Hey, you guys sound like us!" Ron squeezed Hermione tightly.

"We do?" Seamus blushed and looked away.

"I don't know about that," Ginny lowered her eyes.

Ron changed the topic.

"Hey Seamus, what did Harry tell you about us?"

"Nothing," He replied, suddenly becoming very interested on the collar of his robes.

"There is something, I can tell."

"He was just confused when he saw you guys holding hands before the transfer at the port key," Seamus admitted.

"He should have just said something to us," Hermione alleged. "Instead of just gossiping to you. No offense or anything."

"None taken. I don't think I should be involved in the three of you's lives anymore then you may think so."

"I didn't mean it like that. People's feelings just seem to get hurt and rumors start to form when more people are involved."

"I see what you're saying," Seamus said.

"But that is all Harry told me. He was gone even before I really got to give him any answer." Then, as if on cue or something, Harry was back out of no where. They all held their breath as he sat down next to Ron.

"Hey guys!" He said cheerfully, not even acknowledging that Hermione was snuggled into Ron.

"You're not going to kiss Hermione again, are you?" Dean asked. "Or any of us for that matter. If so, I think I'll leave…"

"Kiss Hermione?!" Harry laughed. "Why would I do that? It's Ron's job! I am really happy for you guys," Harry smiled at the couple. "After all these years I was just waiting for it to finally happen."

"Who are you?" Asked Neville.

"What are you?" Seamus asked.

"I'm Harry Potter!" Harry said as if he was talking to a three-year-old.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"You weren't taken over by Dudley this summer or something?" Dean asked.

"No," Harry laughed again.

"Harry have you been feeling dizzy lately?" Ginny looked thoughtful.

"Actually, yes. Sometimes I just feel like I've blacked out for an unknown period of time and I don't remember that happened during that time!" Harry told her. "And when I snap out of it, my mind is still spinning in circles."

"Hmm," Ginny tried to piece it all together. Her face lit up, and a knowing look appeared on her face.

"I need to talk to you later," she whispered right in Ron's ear. He nodded and wondered what she was up to.

"Oww," Harry touched his scar, beginning to sweat. Not just a little, but pebble sized drops formed on his forehead.

"Harry, are you all right?" Neville questioned.

"Drink some water," Hermione quickly flicked her wand at a glass cup. Harry grabbed the glass, but it fell from his grip as soon as his fingers got around it. His teeth began to chatter, and light groans were emitting from his mouth.

"Neville, go get Hagrid!" Hermione ordered, bounding over to Harry's side. Neville took off right away, almost tripping over his feet.

"Can you hear me, Harry?" Hermione asked, trying to keep him from falling back off the bench. A small group of curious students had formed around them, and many eyes sat watching. Hagrid took a few giant steps, and was at their side in a flash.

"Oh no, not Harry too!" Hagrid exclaimed almost fearfully, scooping him up in his huge arms.

"What happened to him?" Ron asked.

"Where are you taking him?" Hermione jogged after Hagrid.

"To Dumbledore! Come along!"

"This is what I wanted to talk to you guys about!" Ginny followed Ron and Hermione out the doorway.

"I had started to figure out Harry had this, and then I saw Snape and new that something was happening at Hogwarts!" It was one of those things!" Ginny breathed.

"What are you talking about?!" Ron huffed, trying to keep up with Hagrid.

"On the train, those fire things! I-I saw what they did to that second year boy."

"WHAT?" Hermione and Ron cried out in unison.

"What happened to the boy? Ginny, why didn't you tell us about this?" Ron asked.

"I was going to, tonight. But then Harry…"

"Wait, if I am understanding this correctly…Ron, remember when Harry told us he saw a dementor this summer?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded.

"Well, what if that's not really what it was? Maybe it was one of those things from the train!"

"And it did something to Harry?" Ron guessed.

"Exactly. Maybe Dumbledore can give us some more information." They didn't have to jog far to get to him, however. He was walking down the hall with Professor McGonagall, apparently on the way to the Great Hall.

"Dumbledore sir, another one!" Hagrid said, holding out Harry for him to see.

"Take him to the hospital wing, Hagrid. Severus was just there," Dumbledore replied calmly.

"Yes sir," Hagrid hurried off. Dumbledore reached out to stop Ron, Hermione, and Ginny from following.

"Please, can't we go with him?" Ginny asked.

"You will see him later, but right now your presence is requested in the Great Hall."

"What is going on?"

"What it those things from the train?"

"Harry may have seen one this summer!"

"Is he okay?"

"And that boy from the train?" The three students all bombarded Dumbledore with questions. He just smiled.

"We are going to discuss this at the meeting, so hurry along." He and Professor McGonagall continue down the hall, and the three reluctantly followed. The Great Hall was buzzing when they all returned. Seamus, Neville, and Dean had been attacked with questions about Harry while they were gone. They all looked up when they returned and took their seats.

"Well?" Prided Dean.

"They took him to the hospital wing, but Dumbledore didn't tell us anything, he said we had to wait until the meeting," Ron said glumly.

"He didn't seem too panicked though," Ginny said.

"He never seems panicked," Seamus pointed out. The sorting started, and everyone thought it seemed to drag on. It wasn't just the great feast that everyone was anxious for, it was information they wanted. Some cautious new Gryffindor's joined the table, looking wide-eyed at everything.

"Malfoy, Darius!" McGonagall yelled. An exact replica of Draco, minus a few inches, sauntered up to the hat.

"Another Malfoy?!" Neville gulped. "I didn't know he had any brothers."

"Me neither," said Ron.

"Slytherin!" shouted the hat. Draco's group at the Slytherin table all burst into applause. Darius strutted over, and sat proudly next to his brother. Hermione shook her head, and Neville started to bite on his lips. The sorting continued, probably the longest sorting ceremony in the history of Hogwarts. More of the teachers were gathering at the front of the room, until Snape was the only one missing.

"I don't see anyone new up there that could be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Hermione said, scanning the table of teachers.

"Whoever it is must not be here yet," Ginny followed Hermione's gaze. Dumbledore was finished talking to McGonagall, and he walked up to the table in the front of the room. The students were all chatting too loud to pay any notice to him. Ron watched as he waved his arms in the air, and all the candle's flickered off. This got everyone's attention, and the room came to an abrupt silence.

"Thank you," Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"I know there are many things each and everyone one of you have questions about. I will try my best to answer them all."

"SNAPE! WHAT'S WITH HIM?" Someone from the Ravenclaw table shouted.

"I will get to that in time," Dumbledore replied. "First, let me start off with what you all may have seen on the trains. These creatures are called Phantoms. They were never permitted to get anywhere near the Hogwarts grounds, but somehow they have broken into that perimeter. You all may remember when we had those dementor's here at Hogwarts."

"How could we not?"

"Are they back too?"

"Are they looking for Harry again?" Random students started yelling out question's and Dumbledore held up his hand to silence them all.

"They are much like the dementor's, but they are not the same. In a way that they are similar, is by the measure of their strength. Anyone and everyone who comes across these will be sucked into their power, there is no passing it. Secondly, they suck the life out of their victims in a way that the dementor's did," Dumbledore said with no fear or any tone of emotion in his voice.

"It is true that some of our students and staff have been affected by this. Your Potions teacher Professor Snape, Harry Potter, and a second year Ravenclaw boy. Please do not worry about your teacher and fellow students, the Phantoms did not claim any of their lives. Instead what they did was claim part of their lives. What this means, is that the Snape and Harry for instance that you may have known are not the same. Usually their personalities are switched around. This will be permanent until we find the proper antidote."

"Wait, what does he mean permanent?" Hermione whispered. "Harry's seems to come and go!"

"You're right," Ron replied. "What does that mean?"

"We have to ask Dumbledore about it," Ginny brought up. She stood up and started waving her arms in the direction of Dumbledore, although he didn't appear to be done with his speech.

"Yes, Ms. Weasley?"

"You said that this condition is permanent until you find the antidote, correct?" She asked.

"That's correct."

"But Harry's different. His different personalities has been coming and going!"

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore looked somewhat baffled.

"Ron, you tell him, you spoke to him first!" Ginny slapped Ron on the shoulder.

"Go ahead, Mr. Weasley."

"Well," Ron stood slowly. "The first time I spoke to Harry since the summer ended, he was the complete opposite of himself." Hermione nodded, and Dumbledore stared at him intently.

"And?"

"And then when Hermione and I saw him again, he was back to his normal self. He didn't remember when he had been his opposite, almost as if it wasn't him that had done it. But it was him. Then when we saw him again, he was angry. Next he was himself. Then that pattern happened again. He was in his normal state when he started to…I don't really know what happened, but when Hagrid took him to the hospital wing," Ron started talking quickly.

"Are you guys all sure that Harry had different personalities each time?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, trust me!" Hermione stood up next to Ron.

"I am positive, sir."

"I don't really know what to tell you guys, I have not heard of these sort of occurrences with Harry," Dumbledore stroked his beard.

"Maybe it wasn't a Phantom that Harry came across, maybe there is something else?" Hermione asked.

"No, we know that it was a Phantom Harry came across this summer," Dumbledore informed them. There were many whispers floating around the hall, just about all of them involving Harry's name.

"Is Harry going to just land on one personality?" Ron asked.

"Or is he going to continue to change?" asked Ginny.

"I am unclear at the moment, and I will have to look into this more. I will let you all know when I have the correct information. Now please be seated." Dumbledore sounded almost angry in a way.

"You guys, since when does Dumbledore not know the answer to something really important like this?" Neville questioned.

"I don't think that has ever happened," Dean replied. Dumbledore suddenly hurried out of the hall, followed by McGonagall. Everyone stared after him, none of their questions answered. Hagrid took over speaking, but he only went over the usual Hogwarts rules.

"You are dismissed everyone…But please, stay close to your House leaders…And do NOT leave your Common rooms anytime tonight until we give you any further notice!" Hagrid said with a fierce tone that Ron had never heard from him before.

So that is what all the students at Hogwarts did. They were all curious and panicked at the same time. Each House went its own way, while the teachers all followed off in the direction Dumbledore and McGonagall had run off.

"Ron, I'm worried," Hermione wrapped her arm around Ron's waist as they climbed the stairs to the Gryffindor wing, keeping an eye on the new 5th year Prefects that lead the new 1st years.

"Me too," he kissed her head and placed his own arm around her.

"What if this is really bad, something that Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard, has no control over?"

"I don't even want to think of that happening," Neville shuddered. They all came to the portrait of the fat lady.

"Wait, what's the password?"

"Spider legs and jam," Dean said, and the portrait opened.

"Why spider legs??" Ron asked, annoyed. Ginny came running after them, her face red and panicked.

"You guy's, I think it's happening," she breathed loudly, looking into the Common Room.

"What is that?!" Her face went from red to white, and her eyes were wide with fear.

"What?" Ron looked through the hole and held in a scream. There was a scream, and that was Hermione as she held Ron tighter then ever…

Note: Haha, I am ending on two cliffhangers really. Sorry it took awhile, school is very hectic. I'll try and update more.